REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE WITH CASSAVA ROOT MEAL EITHER ALONE OR MIXED WITH BREWERS YEAST SLURRY IN DIETS FOR GROWING-FINISHING PIGS

Abstract

Twenty four (24) crossbred grower pigs of Large White, Landrace, Hampshire and Duroc breeds, which averaged 43.96kg liveweight, were allocated in groups of4 pigs and two replicates, to each of 3 diets. Diet I was a maize-based control while in diets II and III, cassava root meal (CRM) solely, or its mixture with brewers yeast slurry (CRM-BYS) replaced all of the maize in the control. The pigs were group - housed in concrete floor pens where they were fed the test diets to appetite, and had water ad libitum over a 30-day period. Performance parameters were measured during this period, and at the end of it, 4 pigs from each treatment were slaughtered and their carcasses characterized. Average daily feed (ADF), average daily gain (ADG), feed/gain ratio for diets I, II and III were 2.08, 2.07, and 2.01 kg; 0.63, 0.60 and 0.64 kg; 331, 3.48 and 3.15 respectively. The differences were not significant (P >.05). Feed cost/kg liveweight gain was significantly (P< .05) reduced from N19.43 to N14.65 and N11.28 when dietary maize was replaced by CRM and CRM/BYS respectively. Linear and jointed carcass measures, and organ weight did not differ significantly (P>.05) in the different diets. These data show a net advantage of replacing dietary maize with cassava root meal or its mixture with brewers yeast slurry for growing-finishing pigs under the defined conditions.